How To create An XML Sitemap In WordPress Website
- Last Update: April 20, 2025
Before we learn how to create an XML sitemap, let’s talk about what a sitemap is.
Since I tried to make this website beginner-friendly, we will start with the basics. So let’s get started.
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What Is XML Sitemap
A sitemap is an XML file that informs the search engine about the pages and the URLs of a website that are available for crawling.
It also tells the search engine which part or link of your website is more important and how often you update it.
This allows search engine web crawlers like Googlebot to crawl and read the file of your website more intelligently.
I would also like to clarify things regarding the indexing of pages. A search engine like Google will not index your page until:
1. They find and crawl them.
2. They consider them good enough to be worth indexing.
3. The sitemap does not boost the search ranking of a website it just improves the crawling and indexing of your website.
Having said that, by submitting an XML sitemap to a search engine, you are giving a clue that the pages in the XML sitemap are of a good quality landing page.
A Sitemap of a website looks similar to the below screenshot.
Do I Need A Sitemap
From an SEO point of view, a sitemap is important. Particularly if your website meets one of the following criteria.
- If your site is new: Most of the new blogs/websites don’t get backlinks to their post, so it becomes difficult for the search engine to discover all the posts and pages of the website.
- If your site is really large: If your website is really large/ huge, it’s more likely that search engine web crawls might overlook the newly updated or added pages of your website.
- If your site has a large archive: If your website has a large archive and is isolated or not well linked to each other, you can list them in a sitemap to ensure that Google does not overlook some of your pages.
However, using a sitemap does not guarantee that all the items on your website will be crawled and indexed.
How To Create A Sitemap On WordPress Website
There are several ways to create an XML sitemap for a WordPress website. But I will show you the easiest way.
At ElegantEspace, I have used the Yoast SEO plugin to create our sitemap. Since, it allows us to optimize our website along with other features like social integration, meta descriptions and much more.
To get started first of all you need to install and activate the Yoast Seo Plugin.
Upon activation go to the dashboard of your WordPress admin panel click on the Setting tab of the Yoast SEO plugin then go to Site Features scroll down to the API section then enable the XML sitemap (As shown below).
Once you enable the functionality button, click on save changes. This way you can create your sitemap.
To view your sitmap_index.xml files click on the XML Sitemap link displaying inside the sitemap card box (for reference see the above screenshot).
How To Tell Google About The Sitemap
To Add An XML Sitemap To Google Search Console Follow The Below Steps
1. Go to Google Search Console
2. Click on the website URL
3. Go to the sitemap option
4. Once you click on sitemap you will get an option of Add sitemap, click on that.
5. Paste sitemap_index.xml
6. Submit (Refer to the below screenshot)
Once you successfully submit the sitemap it will take a few hours to crawl your website.
After a while, it will start showing you the number of links it found, how many of them got indexed and the stats of your website.
As your site gets older you will start seeing more and more data which will help you how well your site is performing and what else you can do to improve your site performance for the search engine.
I hope this article was able to clear your doubt regarding the XML sitemap and helped you with the installation steps.
FAQs On XML Sitemap
These FAQs provide a comprehensive overview of XML sitemaps, their purpose, creation, submission, and benefits for your website’s search engine optimization efforts.
Are sitemaps still important?
If you want to ensure all the pages on your website can be found by search engines, you’ll definitely want an XML sitemap.
Why do I need an XML sitemap for my website?
An XML sitemap helps search engines crawl and index your website more effectively. It ensures that all your important pages are discovered and included in search engine results.
Do sitemaps help SEO?
Yes. XML sitemaps ensure Google, Bing, and other search engines see and index every page on your website.
If you’re trying to grow organic traffic to your site, it’s critical that people can find any page on your website through searches.
How often do I have to update my XML sitemap?
If you are manually creating and updating your sitemap, you’ll want to refresh it occasionally when you add additional content to your website.
Are XML sitemaps visible to website visitors?
No, XML sitemaps are not meant for human visitors. They are specifically designed for search engines to easily understand and index your website’s content.
How is an XML sitemap different from a HTML sitemap?
An XML sitemap is intended for search engines and is not visible to users. In contrast, an HTML sitemap is a page on your website that provides an organized list of links to help visitors navigate your site.
How do I create an XML sitemap for my website?
You can create an XML sitemap using various methods, including using SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or dedicated XML sitemap plugins. These tools automatically generate the sitemap for you.
What should be included in an XML sitemap?
Your XML sitemap should include all the important pages of your website, such as blog posts, pages, categories, and tags. However, you can exclude specific content like private or non-indexed pages.
Can I manually edit an XML sitemap?
It’s not recommended to manually edit your XML sitemap, as any errors could cause search engines to have trouble crawling your site. Use plugins or tools to generate and update the sitemap.
How often should I update my XML sitemap?
Your XML sitemap should be updated whenever you add or remove significant content from your website. Many SEO plugins can automatically update the sitemap when changes are made.
How do I submit my XML sitemap to search engines?
You can submit your XML sitemap to search engines like Google through their webmaster tools, such as Google Search Console. This helps search engines discover and index your pages.
Can I have multiple XML sitemaps for different sections of my site?
Yes, you can create multiple XML sitemaps to organize your content better. For example, you can create separate sitemaps for blog posts, product pages, and images.
Does having an XML sitemap guarantee better rankings?
While an XML sitemap helps search engines understand your content, it’s just one factor among many that contribute to rankings. Good SEO practices, quality content, and other factors also play a role.
Is an XML sitemap required for every website?
An XML sitemap is not mandatory, but it’s a best practice that can improve your website’s visibility in search engine results. It’s especially beneficial for larger websites or those with complex structures.
How can I check if my XML sitemap is working correctly?
You can use tools like Google Search Console or third-party SEO tools to test and validate your XML sitemap. These tools can help identify any issues that might affect indexing.
Do I need an XML sitemap for my images and videos?
Yes, you can create separate XML sitemaps for images and videos. This can help search engines index and display your multimedia content in their respective search results.
Can an XML sitemap improve my website's crawl efficiency?
Yes, an XML sitemap can guide search engines to your most important pages, helping them crawl and index your content more efficiently, especially for new or updated pages.
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-prashant
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